Shoe shop raises amputation awareness

A temporary shoe shop in London has helped raise awareness of the 135 diabetes-related amputations which take place in England every week.

Each weekly amputation was represented by a pair of shoes which were displayed to attract customers off the street.

The shoe creation was put together by British design house Eley Kishimoto for Diabetes UK, which is hoping to raise awareness of the problem of diabetes-related amputations.

Diabetes management

Amputees were there to greet shoppers and talk to them about good diabetes management and footcare.

Having diabetes, whatever type, puts you at a significantly higher risk of having an amputation than people who don’t have the condition

They also encouraged visitors to find out their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by using the charity’s Know Your Risk online tool.

More than 7,000 diabetes-related amputations take place in England each year, according to Public Health England.

These figures are set to rise even further as the number of people with diabetes continues to soar.

Yet experts agree that with good diabetes management and expert foot care up to four-fifths of these amputations could be avoided.

This includes ensuring everyone with diabetes gets urgent attention if they develop a foot infection and getting annual foot check-ups.

Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: “Amp Shoes is an innovative approach to raising awareness of diabetes and amputations, one of the serious complications that can arise from the condition.

“Over four million people are now living with diabetes and these numbers continue to soar. Having diabetes, whatever type, puts you at a significantly higher risk of having an amputation than people who don’t have the condition.

“Far from the world of shoe-shopping, a major amputation to a leg or foot can leave someone struggling to get out and about and, even with a prosthetic, faced with a limited choice of footwear. Beyond the psychological impact, amputations cost lives with most people dying within five years of having one.

“But it doesn’t need to be this way. Up to 80 per cent of diabetes-related amputations could be avoided through people receiving good diabetes management and expert foot care. This is why we are calling on the Government and NHS to take action now to ensure people with diabetes get the care they need; until this happens people will continue to suffer devastating amputations unnecessarily.”